Auger-anchored beach umbrella

ABSTRACT

An auger-anchored beach umbrella has a canopy member for supporting the canopy and a pole member for anchoring the umbrella in the ground. The canopy member has a lower tubular element within which is formed an axial lumen. The pole member has an upper element which slides snugly into the axial lumen of the canopy member. The pole member has a motor element, within which is enclosed a reversible electric motor. Coupled to the motor&#39;s shaft is an auger. The motor is electrically connected to one or more batteries and to a switch. The user inserts the pole member into the ground by activating the switch in the forward direction, thereby causing the auger to bore into the ground. In the preferred embodiment, the user grasps a handle attached to the upper element to guide the pole member into the ground and to exert a supplemental downward force on it. After the auger is firmly anchored in the ground, the canopy member is mounted on the pole member by sliding the axial lumen over the upper element of the pole member. When the beach umbrella is removed from the ground, the canopy member is removed from the pole member. The user activates the switch in the reverse direction, thereby causing the auger to disengage from the ground. In the preferred embodiment, the user grasps the handle to guide the pole member out of the ground and to exert a supplemental upward force on it.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Beach umbrellas are used to create an area shaded from the sunlightbeneath the umbrella canopy. They are particularly useful for bathers ata beach or swimming pool, where there is generally a lack of trees orroofed structures to provide shade. Because a bather's skin is largelyexposed, there is a greater need to provide protection from harmfulultraviolet rays, which may cause sunburn or melanomas. The shade andshelter provided by a beach umbrella is also useful in protecting abather's valuables and shielding perishable items from direct sunlight.

The principal problem with beach umbrellas has been finding a means ofsecurely anchoring them in the ground. Lack of secure anchoring places alimit on the size of the umbrella canopy that can practically beutilized, since larger canopies are heavier and more vulnerable to gustsof wind. Lack of secure anchoring also makes it impractical to utilizemechanisms for tilting the umbrella canopy in the direction of the sunso as to maximize the shaded area.

Previous attempts to address this problem have utilized anchoringdevices which must be manually inserted or buried in the ground. Suchdevices are disclosed by Beiter, U.S. Pat. No. 2,209,504, Pesaturo, U.S.Pat. No. 2,759,486, Webb, U.S. Pat. No. 4,756,129, Alexander, U.S. Pat.No. 4,803,812, Padin, U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,564, Robinson, U.S. Pat. No.5,199,361, Buttimore, U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,944, Doreste, U.S. Pat. No.6,328,046 B2, Hollenbeck, U.S. Pat. No. 6,354,554 B1, and Girard, U.S.Pat. No. 6,412,748 B1. However, each of these references suffers fromthe disadvantage of depending on the physical strength of the personinserting or burying the umbrella pole in the ground. Frail individualsand children may lack the requisite physical strength to effectivelyutilize these anchoring devices. Even a robust individual may havedifficulty when the ground is hard. Moreover, manual insertion or burialis laborious and time-consuming, and it often does not achieve the depthof ground penetration needed to securely anchor the umbrella.

For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a beach umbrella having amotor-driven anchoring device, which will enable any user to securelyanchor the umbrella in a variety of terrains.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a device that satisfies the needfor a beach umbrella having a motor-driven anchoring device. Thespreadable canopy is typical in design for umbrella canopies as they arepresently known in the art. Due to the improved anchoring afforded bythe present invention, however, a canopy larger than those typicallyfound on beach umbrellas may be utilized. The improved anchoring of thepresent invention also enables the use of a jointed canopy member bywhich the canopy may be tilted in the direction of the sun so as tomaximize the area of shade cast by the canopy.

A self-anchoring beach umbrella having features of the present inventioncomprises two principal parts. First, it has a canopy member, whichconsists of an upper tubular element and a lower tubular element. Aspreadable canopy is attached to the upper tubular element. Within thelower tubular element of the canopy member is formed an axial lumen.

The second part of the present invention is a pole member having anupper element formed for insertion into the axial lumen of the canopymember. Within or mounted upon the pole member is a battery chambercontaining one or more batteries. The battery chamber has a means foraccessing the batteries when they need to be replaced or recharged. Thepole member also has a motor element comprising a reversible electricmotor, which has a shaft through which a rotary torque is generated whenthe motor is activated. The shaft is axially disposed on the lower endof the motor. An auger is coupled to the shaft so that it rotates whenthe motor is activated.

Since the motor is reversible, it may be activated in the forward orreverse direction. The forward direction of the motor is considered tobe clockwise for a right-hand-screw type auger (i.e., one in which thehelical flighting wraps around the auger's axis in the clockwisedirection), and counterclockwise for a left-hand-screw type auger (i.e.,one in which the helical flighting wraps around the auger's axis in thecounter-clockwise direction). Conversely, the reverse direction of themotor is considered to be counter-clockwise for a right-hand-screw typeauger and clockwise for a left-hand-screw type auger. When the motor isactivated in the forward direction, the effect of the auger rotating inthe ground will be to lift the soil or sand, thereby excavating a holeinto which the umbrella's pole member may be inserted. When the motor isactivated in the reverse direction, the effect of the auger rotating inthe ground will be to push the excavated soil or sand back down into thehole, thereby causing the pole member to extract itself from the ground.

The speed and direction of the reversible electric motor is controlledby a switch mounted on the motor element of the pole member. The switchis electrically connected to the batteries and the motor. Optimally, theswitch is located on a handle attached to the motor element of the polemember. The handle enables the user to guide the auger and apply asupplemental force in the direction of the auger's motion. Optionally, apositive action type switch may be utilized, such that the direction ofthe pressure on the switch controls the direction of the motor, and theamount of pressure on the switch regulates the speed of the motor. Suchpositive action switches are typically used on hand-held electric powertools.

In an alternate embodiment, the auger is detachable from the motor shaftso that it may be replaced if damaged. This feature also enables the useof one or more alternate augers designed for different groundconditions.

Due to its improved anchoring, the present invention may optimallyutilize a tilting canopy by means of a joint between the upper and lowertubular elements of the canopy member. Using the joint, the canopy istilted in the direction of the sun to maximize the area of shade cast bythe canopy.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a front view of a self-anchoring beach umbrella embodyingfeatures of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIG. 1, a self-anchoring umbrella embodying the features ofthe present invention 10 comprises a canopy member 11 and a pole member12. The canopy member 11 is comprised of an upper tubular element 13 anda lower tubular element 14. The pole member 12 is comprised of an upperelement 15, a motor element 16, and an auger 17.

A spreadable canopy 18 is connected to and supported by the uppertubular element 13 of the canopy member 11. Within the lower tubularelement 14 of the canopy member 11 is formed an axial lumen 19. Theupper element 15 of the pole member 12 is formed to slide snugly intothe axial lumen 19 of lower tubular element 14 of the canopy member 11.

The motor element 16 of the pole member 12 comprises a reversibleelectric motor (not shown), having on its lower end an axially-disposedshaft 20, which is coupled to the auger 17. Mounted upon the motorelement 16 of the pole member 12 is a switch 21. In the preferredembodiment, the switch 21 is mounted on a handle 22 attached to themotor element 16 of the pole member 12. The switch 21 is electricallyconnected to the reversible electric motor (not shown) and to one ormore batteries (not shown) enclosed in a battery chamber 23, which iswithin or mounted upon the pole member 17. Access to the batteries isprovided by a means 24 for accessing the battery chamber 23, whichaccess means may be a cap, panel or similar structure which screws orslides into the exposed side of the battery chamber 23.

In the preferred embodiment, the switch 21 is a positive action switchwhich is positioned on the handle 22 in such a way that the operator mayregulate the direction and speed of the reversible electric motor (notshown) while using the handle 22 to guide the pole member 12 into theground. In the neutral position (i.e., no pressure applied) the switch21 turns the reversible electric motor (not shown) off. When downwardpressure is applied to the switch 21, the motor (not shown) is activatedin the forward direction, causing the auger 17 to rotate in thedirection in which its helical flighting 25 wraps around the axis of theauger. When upward pressure is applied to the switch 21, the motor (notshown) is activated in the reverse direction, causing the auger 17 torotate in the direction opposite to that in which its helical flighting25 wraps around the axis of the auger. The amount of pressure applied tothe switch 21 in the downward or upward direction regulates the speed ofthe reversible electric motor (not shown) in the forward or reversedirection.

In an alternate embodiment, the auger 17 is detachably coupled to theshaft 20 of the reversible electric motor 16, to facilitate replacementof a damaged auger and to enable use of multiple auger configurationsdesigned for different terrains. In another alternate embodiment, atiltable joint means is provided between the upper tubular element 13and the lower tubular element 14 of the canopy member 11, therebyenabling the canopy 18 to be tilted about the axis of the umbrella.

The design of the canopy 18 and the means of its attachment to the uppertubular element 13 of the canopy member 11 is typical for beach umbrellacanopies as they are presently known in the art. The canopy member 11may be fabricated of a light-weight, durable tubular metal or plasticmaterial of the types presently known in the art. In the preferredembodiment, the canopy member 11 has a circular cross-section notexceeding six inches in diameter. The upper element 15 of the polemember 12 has a cross-section which fits snugly into the axial lumen 19of the lower tubular element 14 of the canopy member 11 and may befabricated of a light-weight, durable metal or plastic material of thetypes presently known in the art. In the preferred embodiment, the upperelement 15 of the pole member 12 has a circular cross-section notexceeding six inches in diameter.

The motor element 16 of the pole member 12 comprises a reversibleelectric motor (not shown) encased in tubular sleeve which may befabricated of a light-weight, durable metal or plastic material of thetypes presently known in the art. The reversible electric motor (nowshown) is the type typically used in small power tools, such ashand-held drills. The motor (not shown) is electrically connected to thebatteries in the battery cavity 23 through the switch 21. In thepreferred embodiment, the switch 21 is located on the handle 22 which ismounted on the motor element 16 of the pole member 12. The switch andthe handle may be fabricated of a light-weight, durable metal or plasticmaterial of the types presently known in the art.

The auger 17 has a cylindrical axis about which is wrapped helicalflighting 25. The diameter of the auger 17 and the width and pitch ofthe helical flighting 25 are determined by the type of terrain in whichthe beach umbrella 10 will be used. The top end of the auger 17 isdesigned to be coupled to the shaft 20 of the reversible electric motor(not shown). In the preferred embodiment, the auger 17 is fabricated ofa steel alloy suitable for prolonged exposure to a salt-waterenvironment, and the bottom end of the auger 17 is conical in shape tofacilitate insertion into the ground.

The operator of the invention 10 finds a desired location and takes holdof the pole member 12 by the handle 22, pointing the bottom end of theauger 17 into the ground. The operator then activates the switch 21 inthe forward direction, causing the auger to bore into the ground. In thepreferred embodiment, the operator controls the speed of the auger 17 bythe amount of pressure applied to the switch 21. Using the handle 22,the operator applies a downward pressure and guides the pole member 12as the auger 17 bores down into the ground to a sufficient depth tosecure the pole member 12. The operator then lifts the canopy member 11and inserts it over the upper element 15 of the pole member 17 in such away as the upper element 15 slides into the axial lumen 19 formed withinthe lower tubular element 14 of the canopy member 11. At this juncture,the beach umbrella 10 is firmly anchored in the ground and the canopy 18may be opened. If the optional tiltable joint is incorporated in thecanopy member 11, the canopy 18 may also be tilted so as to maximize thearea of shade cast by the canopy 18.

When the operator is ready to depart, the canopy 18 is closed and thecanopy member 11 is lifted up so as to separate it from the pole member12. The operator takes hold of the pole member 12 by the handle 22 andactivates the switch 21 in the reverse direction, causing the auger todisengage from the ground. Using the handle 22, the operator applies anupward pressure and guides the pole member 12 as it emerges from theground. Once the pole member 12 has been removed from the ground and theauger 17 cleared of sand or soil, the operator may elect to eithertransport and store the canopy member 11 and pole member 12 separatelyor reassemble them so as to transport and store the beach umbrella 10 asone unit.

The present invention is, therefore, well adapted to satisfy the needfor a beach umbrella which can be securely anchored in the groundwithout requiring significant physical strength and exertion on the partof the user. The present invention, moreover, allows a significantlylarger and heavier canopy to be deployed and makes it practicable toutilize a tiltable canopy.

While the present invention has been described in some detail withreference to certain currently preferred embodiments, other embodimentsare feasible and will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in theart. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims is notlimited to the description of the preferred embodiments containedherein.

1. A self-anchoring beach umbrella comprising: (a) a canopy memberhaving an upper tubular element, to which a spreadable canopy isattached, and a lower tubular element, within which is formed an axiallumen; (b) a pole member having: (i) an upper element, formed forinsertion into the axial lumen of the canopy member; (ii) a motorelement, comprising a reversible electric motor, having on its lower endan axially-disposed shaft through which a rotary torque is generatedwhen the motor is activated; and (iii) an auger coupled to the shaft ofthe reversible electric motor such that the auger rotates in a forwardor reverse direction when the motor is activated; (c) a battery chamberlocated in or mounted upon the pole member, said battery chamber havingwithin it one or more batteries and having a means for accessing saidbatteries so that they may be removed and replaced or recharged; (d) aswitch mounted on the motor element of the pole member and electricallyconnected to the batteries and the reversible electric motor, wherebythe motor may be activated and the direction and speed of the motor maybe controlled;
 2. The self-anchoring beach umbrella according to claim1, further comprising a handle attached to the motor element of the polemember by means of which either: (i) a downward force may be appliedwhile the auger is rotating in the forward direction, thus causing theauger to bore into the ground and anchor the pole member; or (ii) anupward force may be applied while the auger is rotating in the reversedirection, thus causing the auger to disengage from the ground and freethe pole member.
 3. The self-anchoring umbrella according to claim 1,wherein the switch is positioned on the handle so that the switch may beactivated by the operator while he/she is applying downward or upwardforce to the handle.
 4. The self-anchoring umbrella according to claim2, wherein the switch is a positive action switch, such that the switchis not activated unless a continuous pressure is applied thereto by theoperator.
 5. The self-anchoring umbrella according to claim 3, wherein:(i) the switch regulates the direction of the motor by the direction ofthe pressure applied to the switch; and (ii) the switch regulates thespeed of the motor by the amount of pressure applied to the switch. 6.The self-anchoring umbrella according to any one of claims 1-5, whereinthe auger is detachably coupled to the shaft of the reversible electricmotor and replaceable by another auger, such that: (i) a damaged augermay be replaced; or (ii) one or more alternate augers designed fordifferent ground conditions may be utilized.
 7. The self-anchoringumbrella according to any one of claims 1-5, further comprising a jointmeans for tilting the upper tubular element of the canopy member aboutan axis with respect to the lower tubular element of the canopy member,which joint means is disposed between the upper tubular element of thecanopy member and the lower tubular element of the canopy member, suchthat the canopy may be tilted in the direction of the sun so as tomaximize the area of shade cast by the umbrella's canopy.
 8. Theself-anchoring umbrella according to claim 6, further comprising a jointmeans for tilting the upper tubular element of the canopy member aboutan axis with respect to the lower tubular element of the canopy member,which joint means is disposed between the upper tubular element of thecanopy member and the lower tubular element of the canopy member, suchthat the canopy may be tilted in the direction of the sun so as tomaximize the area of shade cast by the umbrella's canopy.